Weirdest Authentic Chinese Dishes

June 9, 2017

Unlike many western cuisines, Chinese cuisine often includes fermented foods, such as bean paste and eggs. To learn more about some unique authentic Chinese dishes, read on.

Chinese food is unique and diverse. It contains a wide range of flavors and textures, which vary from region to region within the vast country. Unlike many western cuisines, Chinese cuisine often includes fermented foods, such as bean paste and eggs. They make use of unique cooking techniques, spices, flavors, and sometimes even insects. They eat many parts of animals that we often do not. To learn more about some unique authentic Chinese dishes, read on.

Preserved Egg

This shiny dark black or grey egg often has a snowflake pattern on the outside. They have been eaten in China since the 14th century. They can often be found in soups and congee and served with tofu. It is important not to eat too many of them at once, as they can contain trace amounts of lead.

Stinky Tofu

This tofu smells strongly. The most famous type is from Changsha, and has a crispy skin and a spicy flavor. This snack varies throughout China, but is known for smelling bad but tasting delicious. They can be found in many of China’s biggest and most popular tourist cities, such as Beijing, Shanghai, Xi’an, Hangzhou, and Guilin.

Fried Bee Pupae

These are a nutrition rich morsel that is often an ingredient in cooked authentic chinese dishes throughout China. Bee Pupae are high in protein and low in fat, making them an ideal snack. It can also be a street food served on a stick. While it is most common to fry bee pupae, they can also be steamed, cold fried, stir fried, and made into cakes. Fried insects are popular across China, especially as street food. Other commonly eaten fried insects include black beetle, spider, centipede, grasshopper, and scorpion.

Bamboo Rice

For this treat, rice and pork are cooked in a section of fresh green bamboo until the bamboo is seared. It can be found throughout China, especially in the Yuannan Province, Guilin, and in the Guizhou Province. You will be most likely to find it in small villages.

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